Chef's Requested Steaks Are Actually Turkey

Chef’s Requested Foods of Oklahoma City has announced a recall of about 875 pounds of center cut steaks because the packages actually contain turkey filets instead.  This isn't just a funny mixup, though, say USDA officials--it's also potentially dangerous to folks with food allergies because the turkey filets are made with wheat and soy.  The steaks' packages, of course, don't list those potential allergens on the package.

The USDA's press release on the mis-labeled turkey fillets describe them as:

• 10-oz. plastic double cup packages of “Chef’s Requested CENTER CUT STEAK Hand Trimmed, Bacon Wrapped Beef Steaks Enhanced with up to twenty percent of a lightly seasoned solution”

They should all have the code “EST. 5792” inside the USDA mark of inspection on their labels and the code “Use or Freeze by 11/12/11”.  They were sent to these states:

• Arizona
• California
• Maryland
• Ohio
• Texas 

The mixup with the steaks was reportedly first discovered by a retail customer who then notified Chef’s Requested Foods.  Chef's, in turn, notified the USDA.   Chef's Requested Foods says that the problem occurred when a company employee mistakenly used labels from steaks, which had been produced earlier that day, on the turkey filets.  Both food items are packaged in similar packaging.


Neither the USDA nor Chef's Requested Foods have logged any reports of allergic reactions due to this recall.